Alabama House approves lottery bill

MONTGOMERY , Ala., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- A bill to allow voters to decide if Alabama should have a state lottery was passed by the state's House of Representatives on its second try.

After the House voted 61-37 to approve the bill Thursday, two short of the number needed, supporters won a reconsideration motion to arrange another vote. This rare move in Alabama's legislature paved the way for success; two representatives changed their votes, another voted in favor after previously abstaining, and the bill passed by 64-35.

The legislation will be sent to the state's Senate, which approved it in another form last week by 21-12, for concurrence. The bill makes approval of a state lottery a constitutional amendment, meaning voters will be able to approve or reject it. Whether it will be part of the Nov. 8 general election was the subject of disagreement on the House floor Thursday; Secretary of State John Merrill said Wednesday was the deadline, but Rep. Alan Harper, Republican sponsor of the House bill, said it could be on the ballot if passed by both houses by Friday at midnight.

The bill would direct 90 percent of lottery proceeds to the state's general fund to help stabilize Alabama's budget; the first $100 million of lottery proceeds would be earmarked for Medicaid payments, which in Alabama faces a shortfall of at least $85 million.

Republican Gov. Robert Bentley has predicted a state lottery could bring in $225 million to the general fund, and Thursday praised the House on its vote.

"I want to say I how appreciative I am of a bipartisan effort. This is unusual. This is unusual in politics in America today," he said.